If people adhered to the following twelve rules, 40 percent of all dementia diseases could be prevented or postponed, according to researchers.
- Dementia is an old age disease * that mainly affects older people. But it can also be used at a young age.
- The disease is incurable, but early treatment can delay progress.
- With the right lifestyle, people can even prevent the disease, as a commission from the medical journal "The Lancet" announced. There are twelve rules you should follow.
Forgetting has a name: Alzheimer's. Around 700,000 people in Germany are affected by the most common form of dementia, and between 120,000 and 160,000 new people develop the disease every year. But there are also other forms of dementia: a total of around one million people in Germany have dementia. The hitherto incurable disorder leads to the death of nerve cells in the brain , which leads to forgetfulness, confusion and disorientation. If those affected are not treated early enough, they will increasingly lose the skills and abilities they have acquired during their lifetime.
But there are a number of rules of conduct that reduce the risk of illness . A commission of the Lancet, a medical journal, recommends twelve rules that should prevent or at least delay 40 percent of all dementia diseases.
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The twelve rules against dementia
- Move more
Sport and regular activity promote blood circulation in the brain, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and prevent the development of obesity and diabetes. In addition, there is less vascular calcification - a risk factor for dementia.
- Maintain normal weight
Even completely healthy overweight people have an increased risk of dementia, which is why you should check your weight regularly.
- Get treatment for depression
People who suffer from depression are said to develop dementia six times as often as those who are mentally healthy, as welt.de informs.
- Pay attention to a balanced diet
Fast food and ready meals promote diabetes and obesity, which in turn trigger the development of dementia.
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- More often in the fresh air
Air pollution has negative effects on our health - including dementia. Even coronavirus infections are said to be more severe if people grow up in poor air or live in areas with high levels of particulate matter.
- Avoid smoking and passive smoking
The lack of oxygen in the brain caused by smoking and passive smoking can promote dementia. A study by the University of California in San Francisco also shows a connection: middle-aged people who smoked more than two packs of cigarettes a day had a 114 percent higher risk of dementia.
- Early childhood education
Anyone who is encouraged in early childhood, their brain probably has a kind of protective mechanism against dementia. In this way, neural connections that are made early in life can maintain mental performance for a long time.
- Lower blood sugar levels
An increased blood sugar level damages the blood vessels in the long run, which is why diabetics who are not properly treated have an up to fourfold increased risk of vascular dementia, as welt.de reported.
- Prevent head injuries
Every concussion - but also hard headballs - damage the brain and also trigger the risk of dementia.
- Consume alcohol in moderation
Alcohol can attack the structures in the brain and thus promote dementia.
- Lower blood pressure
Too high blood pressure has a negative effect on the blood vessels, it can lead to circulatory disorders in the brain, which promote dementia.
- Correct hearing loss
Prof. Frank R. Lin from Johns Hopkins University has put forward the thesis that the social isolation that often occurs with the hard of hearing is a factor in the onset of dementia, as welt.de informs. (jg) * Merkur.de is part of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editorial network .
More sources: www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de; www.thelancet.com
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